If you have grasped the purpose of life there is no point in trying to make life into something it is not or cannot be.
Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education.
He who pursues fame at the risk of losing his self is not a scholar.
The sage embraces things. Ordinary men discriminate amongst them and parade their discriminations before others. So I say; those who discriminate, fail to see.
Great knowledge is universal. Small knowledge is limited. Great words are inspiring; small words are chatter.
The perfect man uses his mind as a mirror. It grasps nothing. It regrets nothing. It receives but does not keep.
In an archery contest, when the stakes are earthenware tiles a contestant shoots with skill. When the stakes are belt buckles he becomes hesitant, and if the stakes are pure gold he becomes nervous and confused. There is no difference as to his skil.
I am going to try speaking some reckless words, and I want you to try to listen recklessly.
There are no greater adversaries than yin and yang, because nothing in Heaven or on Earth escapes them. But it is not yin and yang that do this, it is your heart that makes it so.
You are still guided by your expectations.
The true man breathes with his heels.
He who knows he is a fool is not the biggest fool; He who knows he is confused is not in the worst confusion.
The man who has some respect for his person keeps his carcass out of sight, hides himself as perfectly as he can.
Easy is right. Begin right and you are easy. Continue easy and you are right. The right way to go easy is to forget the right way, and forget that the going is easy.
Great understanding is broad and unhurried; little understanding is cramped and busy.
Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious. Great speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous.
Men of this world all rejoice in others being like themselves, and object to others not being like themselves.
Verily God does not reward man for what he does, but for what he is.
When there is no more separation between ‘this’ and ‘that,’ it is called the still-point of the Tao. At the still point in the center of the circle one can see the infinite in all things.
If water derives lucidity from stillness, how much more the faculties of the mind.